DALLAS — Crews began covering portions of Whaling Wall 82 on the side of a downtown Dallas building with new artwork tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The mural by marine life artist Wyland faces Akard Street and has been in place since the 1990s.

Wyland said he plans to pursue legal action over the covering of the mural, which he said is protected under the federal Visual Artists Rights Act. "We have a lot of walls. And you're going to paint over mine?" he said.

Wyland disputed accounts that organizers had contacted him before work began. "You know they're telling people we reached out to Wyland, we reached out to the Wyland Foundation, they did no such thing," he said.

The City of Dallas referred questions about the project to the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee. "The mural currently being installed celebrates and builds excitement for the upcoming World Cup 2026," the committee said in a statement. The new artwork is intended to reflect the energy, unity, and global spirit surrounding the World Cup 2026.

The committee said a portion of the original mural would remain intact. "With great respect for Wyland's legacy, a portion of the original mural will remain preserved as a tribute to its lasting impact on the city," the statement said.

The mural is 27 years old. The new mural is expected to be completed ahead of World Cup-related events in Texas.